Collapsible backrest for retractable bleachers



June 6, 1961 R. s. WALWORTH 2,987,111

COLLAPSIBLE BACKREST FOR RETRACTABLE BLEACHERS Filed Jan. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

E 5. W94 weer/r ArToR/vExf United States 2,987,111 COLLAPSIBLE BACKRESTFOR'RETRACT-ABLE BLEACHERS Robert S. Walworth, Berlin, Wis., assignor :to Consolidated Foundries and Mfg.-Corp,, Chicago, 111,, as corporation of Delaware 7 Filed Jan. 20, .1959, Ser..No.'787,937 2 Claims. (Cl. 155-130) The present invention relates generally toretracta-ble bleachers or grandstands of the type which have seating tiers of varying heights that telescope compactly'together when in the storage position. More particularly, the invention relates to collapsible backrests for such seating tiers.

It is highly desirable to provide backrests for these retractable bleachers for the sake ofcomfort of'therspecltators. These backrests, however, often interfere with the telescoping action of the bleachers and provision-must be made for collapsing them to permit retraction-into a storage position. .It .is a considerable task for the attendants or ushers, at the events where these bleachers are 'used, to raise these backrests into operativeposition *be'fore useand then collapse them prior to moving the bleachers to a telescoped storage position. The present invention accordingly-provides retractable bleachers of the telescoping type which have backrests that may be quickly and easily moved between operative and inoperative positions and when in the latter position occupy no more height than the seat to which they are attached and thereby do not interfere with the telescoping action of the tiers of seats.

The invention furthermore contemplates collapsible backrests for telescoping bleachers of the above type, which backrests are simply raised to free them from a locked operative position, and then may be lowered rearwardly to a position where the tiers of seats can be easily nested together. To subsequently move the backrests back to an operative position, it is only necessary to raise the backrests and drop them into locked engagement with their associated seat.

Another aspect of the invention provides that the above arrangement is such that backrests are constructed into a unit that accommodates several seats which greatly facilitate changing the rests from one position to the other.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an economically produced collapsible backrest that is easy to maintain, simple to assemble, easily installed and forms a rigid and strong unit.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear later as this disclosure progresses, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a telescoping bleacher arrangement which embodies the present invention and which is shown in the extended position;

FIGURE 2 shows the device of FIGURE 1 in the retracted or telescoped position for storage;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the bleachers as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a section of the bleachers shown in the other figures;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are enlarged side and rear views, respectively, of the backrest bracket shown in the other figures; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the support bracket shown in FIGURES 1-4.

This invention relates generally to the type of structure shown in my U.S. Patents No. 2,817,122, issued December 24, 1957, for Folding Chair Seating Assemblage" and Patented June 6, 1961 "embracing the rails 12 as they are moved and guided 'by the lazy tongs 13 into and out of nested relationship shown in FIGURE 2.

However, it is believed suflicient to say for purposes of the present invention, that the platforms 15 provide transverse aisles along which the operators may walk and are adapted to be vertically nested together, as shown in FIGURE 2, when the bleachers are in the storage position. The stationary rear supports 7 of the bleachers may be secured to the wall by the anchor bolt means 16 as illustrated, or the assemblage may be utilized as a mobile unit without such attachment.

A seat S-is provided along the front edge of each of the platforms 15 and comprises transversely spaced steel "braces 17 welded or otherwise secured to the rails 12,

and apaddedseating portion 18. It will be noted that the height of the 'seat above its platform is such to permitit 'to' beretracted beneath the next highest platform.

In accordance with :the present invention, support brackets 20 are secured at spaced locations along the length of the seat. These brackets are comprised of steel plates having a'straight edge 21 by which they are secured to the braces 17 by welding as at 22 or by other suitable means. An elongated slot 23 is formed in each of the brackets intermediate their length and an upwardly opening recess 24 is formed in its upper edge.

The backrest R is comprised of the arms 26 which are generally T-shaped in cross-section for supporting the weight of several people. The arms are bifurcated at their lower end to receive the plate bracket 20 therebetween. Self-locking spring pins 27 and 28 extend through the bifurcated end of arm 26 and are engageable in the slots 23 and 24, respectively, of the bracket 20.

Arms 26 are formed preferably from a sand casting alloy and have spaced parallel flanges 30 and 31 along their front side which securely locate the padded backrest member 32. A lag-screw 34 extends through the arm 26 and thereby secures the member 32 in position.

In practice, these arms 26 may be spaced four to five feet apart, for example, and the joint shown between the arms 26 and their brackets 20 is a particularly rigid one which absorbs lateral thrust on the backrest when it is in the raised position. When in this operative position, the backrest is locked securely in place and cannot be accidently disengaged.

In order to lower the backrests R from their position shown in FIGURE 1, it is only necessary to raise them, causing the pin 28 to be lifted from its open-ended slot 24 and also causing the pin 27 to travel to the upper end of its slot 23. Thereupon the backrest may be lowered to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 3, where the rubber bumper 36 rests on the platform.

It is a simple matter for a single attendant to raise or lower a number of these lightweight backrests in a short period of time-the necessity of handling individual rests for each person having been eliminated.

When in the lowered position, the backrest does not protrude above its seat and does not interfere with the retraction and nesting of the bleachers.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are conrtemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim: I

1. A foldable seating assemblage comprising successive 3 1 transverse platforms of progressively decreasing height, means for interconnecting said platforms to permit relative movement thereof between a vertically nested relationship and an extended position, a seat fixedly secured by an upright support along the forward portion of each of said platforms and being of a height to fit beneath the next highest platform when in said nested po-. sition, a plurality of spaced rearwardly extending plates secured to an intermediate portion of said upright supports of certain of said seats and extending rearwardly therefrom entirely below said seats, said plates each having an upwardly facing recess along its top edge and an elongated aperture below and alined with said recess, and a backrest having spaced arms each secured to one of said plates by a pin held captive and freely rotatable in said aperture, said arms each having a second pin engageable in said recess whereby said backrest is locked in upright position and may be raised and swung from such upright position to a substantially horizontal position wherein it extends over said platform rearwardly of said seat and fits beneath said next highest platform when in said nested position.

2. A foldable seating assemblage comprising successive transverse platforms of progressively decreasing height, means for interconnecting said platforms to permit relative movement thereof between a vertically nested re1ationship and an extended position, a seat fixedly secured by an upright support along the forward portion of each of said platforms and being of a height to fit beneath'the next highest platform when in said nested position, 11

' I c z m:

plurality of spaced rearwardly extending plates secured to an intermediate portion of said upright supports of certain of said seats, said plates each having an upwardly facing recess along its top edge and an elongated aperture below and alined with said recess, and a backrest having spaced arms each having a bifurcated lower end spanning and secured to one of said plates by a pin held captive in said aperture, said arms each having a second pin engageable in said recess whereby said backrest is locked-in'upright position and may be raised and swung rearwardly from such upright position to a substantially horizontal positionbeneath the height of its seat wherein it fits beneath said next highest platform when in said nested position.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,770 Hess June 16, 1925 1,974,223 Troeger Sept. 18, 1934 2,183,056 Albach et a1 Dec. 12, 1939 2,445,362' Nunes July 20, 1948 2,744,566 Schmidt May 8, 1956 2,817,122 Walworth Dec. 24, 1957 2,817,389 Richards Dec. 24, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 660,989. France Feb. 26, 1929 328,563 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1930 436,162 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1935 622,794 Great Britain May 6, 1949 

